A graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law (J.D., with honors), Ms. Procyk also holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University and a graduate certificate in environmental policy from Loyola University Chicago. She has held academic appointments at Muhlenberg College and Lehigh University, and her extensive civic engagement includes serving as board president of Circle of Seasons Charter School, as an advisor to the City of Bethlehem, and as an election monitor in Ukraine. She currently serves on the boards of the Bach Choir and the Ukrainian Studies Fund. She resides in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with her husband and two daughters.
June, 2025
USF welcome two new board members
June 11, 2025 — The Ukrainian Studies Fund (USF) is proud to announce the appointment of two distinguished professionals to its Board of Directors: Kalyna Procyk, founding attorney of Procyk Law Group, and Dr. Adriana Helbig, professor and associate dean at the University of Pittsburgh. Their leadership, expertise, and longstanding commitment to Ukrainian Studies and civic engagement strengthen the USF’s mission to support scholarly initiatives related to Ukraine.
Kalyna Procyk
Kalyna Procyk brings a deep well of legal expertise and nonprofit leadership to the board. As founding attorney of Procyk Law Group, she leads a practice focused on estate planning, asset protection, and family wealth administration. Her work combines strategic legal insight with a human-centered approach, guiding individuals, families, and closely held businesses through complex decisions with clarity and care. Her earlier career included roles at major multinational law firms, advising private equity groups and commercial developers on high-stakes regulatory and transactional matters.
Dr. Adriana Helbig
Dr. Adriana Helbig is a widely respected scholar and educator whose work bridges music, cultural studies, and human rights. A professor of music and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, she has taught extensively on world music, global hip-hop, and minority cultures in Eastern Europe. Her publications include Hip Hop Ukraine: Music, Race, and African Migration (2014), ReSounding Poverty: Romani Music and Development Aid (2023), and Culture and Customs of Ukraine (2009), among others.
Dr. Helbig earned her Ph.D. from Columbia University and has received numerous prestigious grants, including support from the NEH, ACLS, IREX, and the Fulbright Program. She has served on the boards of the American Association for Ukrainian Studies, the Society for Ethnomusicology, and the Shevchenko Scientific Society. In 2025, she joined both the Harriman Ukrainian Studies Program Advisory Committee at Columbia and the Ukrainian Studies Fund’s Board of Directors.
“The Ukrainian Studies Fund is honored to welcome Ms. Procyk and Dr. Helbig to our leadership team,” said Taras Ferencevych, Executive Director. “Their deep knowledge, integrity, and dedication to Ukrainian culture and scholarship will help us advance our mission at a critical moment for Ukraine and the global Ukrainian community.”
The Ukrainian Studies Fund, established to support research, education, and cultural exchange, remains committed to fostering a deeper understanding of Ukraine’s past, present, and future through strategic philanthropy, academic partnerships, and community engagement.
